Shanghai Airports to the City: Pudong & Hongqiao

Shanghai has two airports, and the fast, cheap way into the city depends on which one you land at. This guide covers Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA) — plus the new 40-minute link between them — with 2026 times and prices.

Landing in China for the first time? Read our airport arrival guide first for immigration, baggage and money, then use this page for the transfer into town.

The two airports

SHA is the easy one — close in, directly on two metro lines. PVG is the long haul, but the maglev and the new Airport Link Line have closed much of the gap.

From Pudong Airport (PVG)

• Maglev (fastest): about 7–8 minutes to Longyang Road, then metro Line 2 into the center. ¥50 (¥40 with your same-day boarding pass) plus the metro fare. Runs roughly 7am–10:40pm every 15–20 min.
• Metro Line 2 (cheapest): direct from Pudong Airport through Lujiazui, People’s Square and East Nanjing Road in 45–70 minutes for ¥4–10. Cheap and reliable, busy at peak.
• Airport bus: lines cover People’s Square, Jing’an, the railway stations and more; the Airport Line 1 (to Hongqiao) is ¥36, ~60–70 min. Night lines run after 11pm for late arrivals.
• Taxi / ride-hailing: ¥150–200 to the center by day, ¥180–230 at night, 50–70 min depending on traffic.

From Hongqiao Airport (SHA)

• Metro Lines 2 and 10: to People’s Square, Nanjing Road and Jing’an in 25–40 minutes — the simplest airport transfer in Shanghai. Hongqiao also contains the high-speed rail station, so train travelers are already in the same complex.
• Taxi / ride-hailing: about 25 minutes to the Bund and cheaper than Pudong — the easy choice with luggage.

Transferring between the airports

• Airport Link Line (new): opened December 2024, connecting Hongqiao T2 and Pudong T1/T2 in about 40 minutes for ¥26 — a third of the old metro time. Runs ~6am–10:15pm every ~15 min.
• Metro Line 2: the slow-but-cheap option, ~100–120 minutes for ¥8.
• Airport Line 1 bus: direct, ~60–70 min, ¥36.

Which should you choose?

Step-by-step: Pudong to the centre on the maglev

The maglev is the headline option from Pudong, and it is simpler than it sounds. Here is the full sequence.

1. Find the maglev station. Follow the bilingual “Maglev” signs from the arrivals hall — the station is signposted from the terminal.
2. Buy your ticket. At the counter or machines, buy a single ticket to Longyang Road. It is ¥50, or ¥40 with your same-day boarding pass — show your boarding pass to get the discount. You can also pay with Alipay/WeChat; see our Alipay guide to set up before you fly.
3. Board. Trains run roughly every 15–20 minutes from about 7am to 10:40pm. The ride is about 7–8 minutes — Longyang Road arrives before you have time to settle in.
4. Change to metro Line 2. At Longyang Road, tap out of the maglev and follow signs to Line 2, which runs west through Lujiazui, People’s Square and East Nanjing Road. The remainder of the journey is a normal metro ride — see our Shanghai metro guide.

If you would rather not change trains at all, Metro Line 2 runs direct from Pudong Airport station through the centre in 45–70 minutes for ¥4–10 — slower, but one seat all the way.

Late-night arrivals

The maglev and metro wind down around 11pm, so late landings mean bus or taxi.

• Night bus: the airport night bus (守航夜宵线) runs from about 11pm until roughly 45 minutes after the last flight, covering Longyang Road, Century Avenue and Yan’an East Road.
• Taxi / Didi: overnight fares from Pudong run about ¥180–230 to the centre. Use the official rank or a licensed ride-hailing app — see our taxi guide for how the meter and night surcharge work.

If you land at Hongqiao late, it is much simpler — the ride is short and cheaper, and taxis are easy to find. Whichever airport you arrive at, always use the official rank or a licensed app — touts inside the terminal are never the cheaper deal.

Cost comparison at a glance

All prices are estimates and shift with traffic, time of day and exact distance. Metro and maglev fares are fixed; taxi fares move with the roads.

Practical tips

• Use official channels only — the official taxi rank or licensed ride-hailing; skip anyone who approaches you in the terminal.
• Set up payment first: Alipay transit codes cover the maglev, metro and buses — see our payments guide.
• Know your hotel area: most stays cluster near People’s Square, the Bund or the French Concession — see where to stay in Shanghai.
• Returning: leave generous time from Pudong — immigration and security at a big airport take a while.
• Stay connected: install an eSIM for China before you fly, or set up the apps you’ll need — data before you leave the terminal makes booking a ride or checking routes far easier.
• Metro help: our Shanghai metro guide has the system map and transit tips.

Returning to the airport

The return is the reverse of the way in. From the city, Metro Line 2 runs back out to Pudong Airport, and the maglev from Longyang Road is the fastest leg if you are short on time. If you are flying from Hongqiao, Metro Lines 2 and 10 get you there, and the high-speed rail station is in the same complex if you are continuing by train. Pudong is the long haul — allow generous time for check-in, security and immigration, and confirm the maglev’s evening hours before relying on it.

Where this fits

Shanghai is the start or finale of the 7-day, 10-day and two-week routes, and the base for day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou. For the city itself, see the Shanghai guide.

Fares and times as of August 2026, based on official Shanghai transport announcements — confirm current schedules before you travel.